Translation: Can I run the asset more efficiently (raise the NOI and lower the expenses)?

If you have a $100,000 loan at 3.75% and that goes up to 5.25% but your able to get another 50-100k out the additional cost on your current loan is only $1500 per year which is a small price to pay to go create some other opportunity that over the life of that second investment can yield you $50,000-$150,000.My biz partner told me years back, "Don't step over quarters to pick up pennies", which to me most of the time translates to calculate the money you are not making by taking that next step vs the money you are trying to save.

When you spend money on cosmetic items it must translate into a comparable rent increase.

Which translates to a house value of $281,841.00 Now at interest rates around 4.65% that same mortgage monthly payment jumps to $464.07 which translates to a house value of $263,142.00 So you see the effect of interest rates on house values?

There are so many things that are different, and that are irrelevant from the stock market that don't translate in the same way into REI...like IRR. 

With flips you are obviously adding value so I was able to covert the loan with no money in the game just bc of the value I added to the property which translated to being my 15% down payment.

May I suggest you find an OOS market that has higher rental demand, so that imperfections in management don't translate as directly to lost rents.

Where I'm located the housing stock is predominantly quads and smaller... and its almost all converted SFH that are 100+ years old to boot (translated = rotted sewer lines, knob & tube electric, lead paint, asbestos siding & pipe wrap)... all the things that say OPPORTUNITY... and I've been missing it for over a year!

Does it translate to more money in your pocket?  

Here are demographics and economic factors we're watching that could translate to a housing slow down.The largest group of borrowers, baby boomers, are aging out.